British American Tobacco Ukraine, one of the largest cigarette producers in Ukraine, in early June 2013 launched a new cigarette filter line with a capacity of 5,000 filters a minute at Pryluky tobacco factory (Chernihiv region), reads a report of the company.

The report says that equipment for packaging oval cigarettes was also installed.

The filters made at the new equipment are used for Rothmans cigarettes.

"The production facilities are being upgraded and expanded in line with the program for increasing the efficiency of the company's functioning, which is part of the general strategy for ensuring the stable development of the British American Tobacco Group," reads the report.

The company said that the new equipment will allow it to accelerate some production processes, improve the quality of products and increase the safety of production processes at the Pryluky tobacco factory.

British American Tobacco Ukraine said that at present, the large obstacle in the development of the tobacco industry is the continual increase in the volume of counterfeit and smuggled products in Ukraine.

"The avalanche-like growth in the illegal trade can be prevented only thanks to the balanced regulation of the sector and the effective unmasking of criminal schemes of production and sales of counterfeit products," the company said.

British American Tobacco is a second largest cigarette producer in the world. Its portfolio includes over 200 cigarette brands.

British American Tobacco Ukraine was founded in 1993 on the basis of the Pryluky tobacco factory.